Board Minutes - 2022.08.15

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Bleichner moved to approve the agenda.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Hansen moved to approve items A, B, C, D and F with amendments to the July 18^th minutes to include the full motion to the JSH Handbook changes.   Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.  McCardle moved to approve item E – New Hires.  Trimble second.  Motion carried 4-0, with Hansen abstaining.

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on July 18, 2022.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

First Readings:

C. Approval of Resignations

D. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

E. Approval of New Hires (pending acceptable background checks)

F. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Hansen reviewed the bills – McCardle will review in September

     2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public – Head Baseball Coach Matt Miller and a couple of the senior ball players presented the trophies to the board from the State Baseball Tournament. Congratulation to the players and coaches for a tremendous season.

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Board complemented the Boy’s baseball team on a successful season.  Smith had attended the St John’s School Board meeting and attended the Buchanan County Resource Enhancement and Protection Committee meeting hosted by the Buchanan County Conservation Board. Supt Reiter thanked all the companies and organizations that are involved in the Plaza project as it is moving along very nicely. The goal is to have it done by the first home football game.  The new staff orientation is on Wednesday, August 17^th, all staff meets on Thursday, August 18^th.   Supt Reiter and AD Putz will be attending the WaMaC mediation meeting regarding the placement of Waverly-Shell Rock into an athletic conference.  First day of school is August 23^rd . Documentation was handed out to the board members to follow up on some action items from previous board meetings.   

C. Presentations

     1.  Volunteer Reading Program – Jake Bass and Lauren Fink presented on a Volunteer Reading Program through AmeriCorps.

     2.  Volunteer/Mentor Program Update – Val Maximovich gave an overview from last year and looking forward to starting the year with the mentors and volunteers..

     3.  Review Board Goal #4:  Continue in Growing an Exemplary Activities Department – Supt Reiter reviewed statistics on the Activities Department from last year.  The district had a lot of success with all the activities last year. The goal needs some wordsmith to the statement about increasing the number of quality offerings to increasing the student participation in quality offerings.  After some board discussion they feel that the district should encourage hiring coaches that work in the district. Smith indicated the following schedule to review goals:  October – Goal #1- Obtain and Sustain Academic Excellence, January – Goal #3 -Responsibly Manage Fiscal Resources and March – Goal #2 – Strengthen and Improve District Communication.

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal

     3.  West Elementary and East Elementary/Early Childhood Center Principals

B. District Director Reports

     1.  Activities Director Report – The Cross-Country races will be held back at MHI this year.

     2.  Director of School Improvement Report – Board discussed being involved in the emergency management exercises with the staff and maybe even have a work session for a table top exercise on emergency management.

     3.  Director of Technology Report

     4.  Director of Food Service Report

     5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

     6.  Director of Transportation Report -Director Chesmore is working on setting up ELDT training in house and will reach out to other districts to invite them to the training.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt Reiter discussed a carpet issue at West and hopefully Larson Construction, HSR and the carpet company can work out a resolution to the issue of the carpet not adhering properly.  Supt. Reiter will call HSR to come finalize the project with just the carpet issue outstanding.

B. Review Grade Inflation Task Force – Kleman, Burmeister, Trimble and Smith will be on the Task Force.

C. Review JSH Scheduling - Supt Reiter and Erin Burmeister talked about the scheduling of skinny and blocks for the CTE area classes.  It is hard for the 9^th and 10^th graders to have block classes with their other required classes.  Kleman and Burmeister will continue to look at scheduling improvements for next year.  

D.  Playground Repairs – Supt Reiter reported that the slides had been fixed and usable. The West playground is still waiting on parts to make the seats stationary rather than wiggly.  Also discussed cameras for the playground, but waiting for the Plaza to be completed to see what the cameras from that area will cover.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Consider Approval of the 2022-2023 Propane Agreement with Consolidated Energy Co. -McCardle moved to approve the 2022-2023 Propane Agreement with Consolidated Energy Co for 22,500 gallons.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

B. Consider Approval of the Agreement for Wellness Programming between Independence Community Schools and Buchanan County Health Center through July 31, 2023 – Bleichner moved to approve the Agreement for Wellness Programming between Independence Community Schools and Buchanan County Health Center through July 31, 2023.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

C. Consider Approval of the Agreement for Sports Injury Coverage between Independence Community Schools and Buchanan County Health Center through July 31, 2023 – Hansen moved to approve the Agreement for Sports Injury Coverage between Independence Community Schools and Buchanan County Health Center through July 31, 2023.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

D. Consider Approval of the 2022-2023 Buchanan County Success Center Handbook – Hansen moved to approve the 2022-2023 Buchanan County Success Center Handbook.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

E. Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – September 2022 Laura Morine, Director of Finance/Board Secretary to Attend ASBO International Conference in Portland, Oregon – Trimble moved to approve the Travel Request Form – September 2022 Laura Morine, Director of Finance/Board Secretary to Attend ASBO International Conference in Portland, Oregon.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.

F. Discuss IASB Bylaws Amendment – Board discussed the IASB Bylaw Amendment and agree with the changes to the bylaws.  Smith is the delegate for this vote.

Board recessed from 7:53 pm to 8:02 pm

G. Closed Session

We need a motion to recess to a closed session as provided in Section 21.5(1)(i) of the Iowa Code;              To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.

Hansen moved to go into a closed session, Trimble second.   Roll call vote:   Smith -aye, Trimble – aye, Bleichner – aye, Hansen – aye, McCardle – aye.  Moved into close session at 8:02 pm. 

No official action was taken during closed session and the session ended at 8:32 pm.

ADJOURNMENT - McCardle moved to adjourn the meeting.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0 and the meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.

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Eric B. Smith, Chair                                             Laura J. Morine, Board Secretary